Atomic flash protection cover



May 18, 1954 E. E. HOWERTON 2,678,444

' A ATOMIC FLASH PROTECTION COVER Filed March 25, 1952 s smug-sheet 1 INVENTOR E mer EHowerion BY MM ATTORNEYS May 18, 1954 Filed March 25, 1952 INVENTOR ATTORNEY5 May 18, 1954 E. E. HOWERTON 2,678,444

ATOMIC FLASH PROTECTION COVER F-iled March 25, 1952 l 3 SheetsQSheet 3 INVENT'OR Emeryfifiwerian BY W L ATTORNEYs Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE ATOMIC FLASH PROTECTION COVER Emery E. Howerton, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application March 25, 1952, Serial No. 278,454

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a garment designed for maximum protection, for an individual, against the eifects of radioactive mist and dust, flash burns, heat, and blinding light caused by an atomic blast.

The garment is designed and constructed in the form. of a cape and hood, which will elimimate any exposure of and give complete cover for the entire body for the wearer.

In order to afford maximum protection against radioactive dust and mist, the material used in the construction of the garment will be treated with water repellant or water proofing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a garment for the purposes indicated, which may be folded or otherwise reduced to a small size, so that the garment may he carried on the person without being cumbersome.

Another object of theinvention, in the construction and design of the garment, is the novel and unique manner in which the hood is attached to the cape, which will permit the wearer, in one simple movement, with the use of the thumbs of the hands, to place the hood in full protective covering position.

It is intended that this garment be worn only in an emergency, and the construction of the garment is such as to permit the quick application of the garment about the entire body.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detailed side elevation of a protecting garment constructed according to an embodiment of this invention showing the garment in applied position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the garment.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the garment showing the hood in unapplied position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detailed front elevation of the garment in open position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary inner elevation partly in section of one of the front panels.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary inner elevation partly in section of the hood.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-48 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary inner elevation of the lower front portion of the hood.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral :5 designates generally a cape which is formed of white fabric treated with water repellant or waterproofing. The cape I5 is formed of a back panel 16 and a pair of front panels or members ll. The panels l6 and l are secured together by stitching along the line [8, and the lower edges of the caps are turned upward to form a hem Id. The forward edges of the front panels H! are also reverted to a front hem I9.

A buttonhole 20 is formed in the upper portion of one of the front panels I l, and a button 2i is secured to the opposite panel and is adapted to be extended through the buttonhole 21$. Preferably the button 2| is non-metallic and may be formed of wood or the like so that this button will not be affected by atomic rays.

A hood; generally designated as 22, is secured to the rear of the neckline, as indicated at 23, and the hood 22 is also secured to the shoulderline, as indicated at 24. The hood extends angularly and forwardly over the front panels H and is secured thereto, as indicated at 25. The hood is formed from two like pieces of material which are sewed together, as indicated at 2601, from the peak containing the lead weight back over the headto the rear neckline so as to produce a rounded shape to the rear portion of the hood for shaped and substantially loose engagement about the head. The marginal edge of the hood 22 is formed with a hem 26, and the forward ends of the hem 26 have secured therein a relatively thick cord 21.

The cord 2? extends upwardly from the lower end of the secured hood portion 25 and provides a relatively thick hem or marginal edge to the hood, whereby the latter may be swung from its inoperative position at the back of the garment upwardly and over the head of the wearer. This operation is accomplished by extending the thumbs under the corded portion of the hem 26 where the hood extends upwardly and rearwardly over the shoulders.

The hood 22 is formed with a pocket 28 positioned at the forward portion of the hood ill-- wardly of the hem 26, and a weight 219 is disposed within the pocket 28. The weight 29 provides a means whereby the hood may be readily swung upwardly and forwardly to a head covering position, and the forward lower edge of the 3 hood will be held closely adjacent the body by the weight 29.

A pair of pockets 30 are secured to the inner sides of the front panels I! in a position whereby the hands of the wearer may be readily extended into the pockets so as to hold the panels I! in closed and overlapping position at the front of the wearer.

Each pocket 36 is formed with a hemmed inner free edge 3| having a relatively thick cord 32 disposed within the hem 30 so that the free edge a of the pocket will project from the inner side of the panel I? and the fingers or hands of the wearer may be easily and quickly inserted into the pockets. 7 r

The cape H is preferably of such length as to extend downwardly to cover the feet of the wearer so that there will not be any exposed limbs or parts of the wearer which may be injured or contacted as a result of an atomic blast. The combined cape and hood can be readily folded into a small compact package and is quick- 1y appli d by placing the cape l5 over the shoulders with the hood 2. initially hanging at'the back of the garment. The button 2| is extended through the buttonhole 20, and the cape 15 can be swung upwardly and forwardly to a head covering position by engaging the thumbs of each hand'with the corded portions of the hood 22. The hood 2?. is then swung upwardly and forwardly in a circular motion, the weight 29 providing means whereby the hood will swing in an arc upwardly and over the head until the weight 29 is in front of the wearer, whereupon the weight 29 will swing the hood 22 downwardly into a complete head covering position.

The hands of the wearer may then be extended 7 into the pockets 3%], the corded portions or inner edges of the pockets providing means whereby the free edges of the pockets can be engaged by the hands in substantially a single forward and preferably the downward motion. Pockets 30 are located slightly below the waist line, where the hands will naturally come into contact with the pockets.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined cape and hood comprising a cape formed of a back panel and a pair of front panels comprised'of flexible flash resistant material, a hood. of flexible flash resistant material secured to said cape, said hood having a size sufiicient to cover the head and depend to completely 4 cover the face of the wearer, a weight carried by the forward edge of said hood to hold the overlapping front portion of the hood adjacent the body of the cape completely to protect the face,

said hood including a thickened marginal edge extending for a substantial distance from the point of attachment of said hood with said cape.

2. A combined cape and hood comprising a cape formed of a back panel and a pair of front panels comprised of flexible flash resistant material, a hood of flexible flash resistant material secured to said cape, said hood having a size suflicient to cover the head and depend to completely cover the face of the wearer, a weight carried by the forward edge of said hood to hold the overlapping front portion of the hood adjacent the body of the cape completely to protect the face, said hood including a thickened marginal edge extending for a substantial distance from the panels comprised of flexible flash resistant material, a hood of flexible flash resistant material secured to said cape, said hood having a size sufllcient to cover the head and depend to completely cover the face of the wearer, a weight carried by the forward edge of said hood to hold the overlapping front portion of the hood adjacent the body of the cape completely to protect the face, said hood including a thickened marginal edge extending for a substantial distance from the point of attachment of said hood with said cape, and a pocket disposed on the inner side of each front panel adjacent the .free front edge of the latter, each pocket having a hemmed free edge, and a cord in said hemmed edge to facilitate the insertion of a hand, into said pocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,380,212 Jurgielewicz May 31, 1921 1,288,802 Cooper Aug. 23, 1921 1,537,119 Keplinger May 12, 1925 1,656,684 Tamborello Jan. 17, 1928 2,513,074 Wolfe June 2'7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 346,935 Italy Mar. 12, 1937 

